Stephane Dion

March 16, 2007

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Well, this cartoon might have had the shortest shelf life on record. This morning the Liberals launched its Green Plan.

Oh well.

Anyway, this is the first St. Patrick’s Day editorial cartoon I’ve ever drawn. With all the talk of green this and green that over the past 3 or 4 months I’ve been waiting for the arrival of this day to feature some politician dressed up as a leprechaun. This is the second time within 6 months… the last (and probably first ever leprechaun I’ve drawn since probably grade 4) was in this cartoon related to Toronto’s Simcoe Day.

Many people think that because I’ve got a pretty celtic name… my middle name is Patrick, by the way, I’m one of those Celtic-philes. Especially one of those North American ‘celts’ who try hard to understand their heritage by scoffing at the notion of green beer and acting like they really enjoy stout beer… and not necessarily Guiness, but one of those micro brewed Irish stouts. Scottish wannabes will act like haggis is the greatest delicacy on Earth. And of course extreme Celtic-philes will listen to obscure celtic music and set aside time on Saturday mornings to watch television highlights of British and Irish soccer… I mean, football. Every few years they’ll go over to the old country and wander around cemetaries looking for long lost relatives just to assure themselves that their backgrounds go beyond their large suburban garage doors in Blandville, North America.

I’ve been to both Scotland and Ireland on a couple of occasions. I lived in London for nearly two years in the 1990’s. I was one of those Celtic-philes, and my life in the U.K. gave me enough exposure to the ways of life over there that I’m more than happy to be back here. I think it was the aftermath of downing 7 pints of Guiness in a row at that St Patrick’s night party at the Irish Club in Sloane Square 14 years ago when I realized Celticmania wasn’t all the ‘craic’ I had been lead to believe.

My grandfather, the MacKay one, emigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1885. That’s 1885. He’d be 129 if he were still alive. Needless to say I’m pretty far removed from the Celtic world. So if we ever bump into each other in person don’t be surprised when you don’t see me in a gaelic kilt and speaking with a heavy Scottish brogue.

Thursday March 1, 2007

March 1, 2007

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 1, 2007

Terror vote fails as Dion reins in Liberals

Two controversial measures in the federal Anti-Terrorism Act will disappear from the law books after a vote last night in the House of Commons that marked the first major political test for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.

In a vote of 159 to 124, the combined opposition defeated a Conservative minority government motion that would have renewed the extraordinary legal powers of authorities to detain and interrogate terrorism suspects.

The Liberal caucus was deeply divided on the issue as recently as last week. But by the time of last night’s vote, only one Liberal — Tom Wappell — abandoned Mr. Dion and voted with the Conservatives.

Former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler abstained, and a dozen other Liberals were absent, some for health reasons.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Mr. Dion had to force his caucus into line, thus putting internal party politics ahead of national security.

Mr. Harper said the failure of the renewal motion is not the end of the matter, suggesting the government might introduce fresh legislation.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said “the government will get to work … to protect Canadians” by fashioning new tools to combat terrorism. He did not specify what the government intends to do.

Mr. Day once again hammered Mr. Dion for “this very distressing flip-flop.” The New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois have long opposed the renewal. But the Liberals took most of the political heat from the Conservatives.

Sensing an opportunity to drive a wedge between Mr. Dion and some of his caucus members, Mr. Harper last week called the Liberal Leader “soft on terrorism.”

The Prime Minister’s tone did not change Tuesday. He said Mr. Dion “denigrates the police in this country.” The Liberal Leader, meanwhile, said he was taking a principled stand in defence of human rights. (Source: Globe & Mail) 

Commentary

February 2, 2007

Yesterday morning as my 5 year old daughter and I were getting ready for our walk to her junior kindergarden she asked me whether or not the groundhog had seen its shadow. Groundhog Day? Is it that time of the year already? How did my 5 year old learn about Groundhog Day? Didn’t matter, she reminded me that it was that time of the year to draw a cartoon on the issue. It’s a day that comes and goes and is easy to miss for cartoonists. The day combined with famous rodents lends itself well to politics and politicians in general. So, I quickly drew up this cartoon to celebrate the occasion. It doesn’t appear in the Spec, but it was available to newspapers through my syndicate at 9:30 am the day before.

December 4, 2006

Like I wrote this past weekend, I haven’t drawn Stephane Dion many times. Yesterday I thought I’d practice by doing a few pencil sketches. He’s pretty good for cartoonists — he’s got beady eyes, a Joe Clarkesque mushroom top full of hair, some defined eyebrows (unlike Bob Rae), a pretty good overbite, and a nice space between the bottom of his nose and his upper lip. He’ll be fun to draw. Some cartoonists, namely Serge Chapleau of the Montreal’s La Presse, is famous in Quebec for depicting Dion with rat like features, especially after the controversy he stirred after drawing up the Clarity act on the conditions leading to provincial secession.

Above is a cartoon I drew of Dion in 1996 shortly after he became Chretien’s minister in charge of unity.

Here’s one I drew in August 1997 illustrating on a letter exchange between Sovereigntist Bernard Landry and Stephane Dion. Note the backpack on Dion’s shoulder. Dion was mocked for coming to Ottawa after years as a professor armed with his backpack.

December 2, 2006

It’s funny how the final battle of the 2006 Liberal leadership convention came down to one between the two main professorial eggheads of the race. I drew the above cartoon back in early April. Some leadership conventions are difficult to predict but this one was a real roller coaster from the start of the first ballot to the end of the fourth. It is said that the King Maker of this race emerged after the second ballot when Gerard Kennedy pulled out and threw his support to Stephane Dion. Once the third ballot was tabulated Bob Rae was knocked off, pretty much finishing off what ever strength was left from the dwindling support held by Michael Ignatieff.

What can I say about a Liberal leader who so far in my editorial cartooning career I’ve probably drawn maybe 5 times? In assessing all the Liberal leadership candidates back in this blog on September 29, here’s what I had to say about Stephane Dion:

Stephane Dion – They say Ken Dryden bores an audience to sleep when he stands up and makes a speech. What about Dion? Man, is he ever tiresome… and humourless. As annoying as Jean Chretien was with his choppy English at least he could be funny. Dion is just painful to listen to. I’m all for the Liberals alternating between anglophone and francophone leaders… and the party is due for a french speaking leader if tradition dictates… but pick one who can speak both languages elegantly, like Trudeau, or Ste. Laurent (I suppose).

True enough, the Liberals have kept their tradition by electing a francophone. While that shouldn’t matter in our happy bilingual country, it’s guaranteed to rub some anglophones the wrong way. “Here we go again”, some will say, “yet another Quebecker is poised to be the next Prime Minister of Canada.” That may very well bold well for party support in Quebec, but it’s pretty predictable that english talk radio’s about to broadcast the voices of many people tired of seeing short lived english Prime Ministers followed by long reigning eras headed by francophones. Not to mention, a francophone LIberal leader who seems to have made Jean Chretien the second happiest person coming out of this convention.

Hopefully Dion can steer and park the party in a clearer and definable left of centre position on issues where Canadian Liberals ought to be, at a midway point between the Conservatives and the NDP. It might make voting easier for Canadians. Problem is that there may no longer be any room left for a lot of those so called blue Liberals — the people who pretty much handed the party consequative governments throughout the 90’s. Stephen Harper’s got to be pretty pleased with that prospect.